Tenth of December Book Club Discussion Questions

0 Shares

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't change our picks or your price.

Quick answer: Good book club questions for Tenth of December focus on kindness, class and moral choices. Below are 17 questions grouped by theme, with a spoiler-free summary, a characters-and-themes table, meeting ideas and a sample 90-minute plan.

Quick facts

– Book: Tenth of December by George Saunders

– First published: 2013

– Setting: Mostly ordinary American towns and suburbs

– Content note: Violence, strong language and dark humor

Tenth of December is a rewarding choice for a book club because it gives readers plenty to discuss without needing special knowledge. This guide gives you questions you can use as written or adapt for your group, plus ideas for running the meeting, so that a host with little time can still lead a good conversation.

Spoiler-Free Summary

Tenth of December is a collection of ten short stories by George Saunders. They mix comedy, satire and heartbreak. In “The Semplica Girl Diaries,” a struggling father records his family's desire to keep up with richer neighbors. In “Escape from Spiderhead,” prisoners are test subjects for drugs that control emotions. In the title story, a lonely boy and a sick man cross paths on a frozen pond.

Tenth of December by George Saunders book cover

Check price of Tenth of December on Amazon

Main Characters and Themes

Character or Theme	What to Know
“Tenth of December”	A boy and a sick man on a frozen pond
“Escape from Spiderhead”	Prisoners used in drug experiments
“The Semplica Girl Diaries”	A father's diary about status and money
“Victory Lap”	A teen girl, a neighbor boy and a kidnapper

Discussion Questions (Contains Spoilers)

These questions assume everyone has finished the book, so they discuss the ending. They are grouped by theme so you can move through them in order or jump to the topic your group cares about most. Feel free to rephrase them, add follow-up questions such as “why do you think so?” and skip any that do not suit your members.

Opening Reactions

What was your first impression of Tenth of December, and did it change as you read?
Which scene or passage stayed with you most, and why?

The Stories

Which story stayed with you most?
Which was hardest to read?
How do the stories show kindness in hard moments?
Which ending surprised you?

Satire

What does Saunders say about money and status?
How does “Escape from Spiderhead” comment on science and power?
Did the strange worlds feel close to ours?
Which story was funniest?

Craft

How does Saunders write voices so different from each other?
Why do you think the collection was so praised?
How does the title story end the book?
Would you read more Saunders?

Looking Back

How did the ending of Tenth of December make you feel, and was it the ending you expected?
Would you recommend this book to a friend, and what would you tell them first?
If you could ask George Saunders one question, what would it be?

Meeting Ideas

Ask each member to read their favorite paragraph aloud before discussion.

A simple way to start is to have each person share a one-sentence rating of the book before discussion begins. It surfaces disagreements early and gives quieter members a chance to speak first. You can also ask each member to bring one question of their own, which often leads to the best conversations of the night.

Ways to Make the Discussion Richer

Compare formats. If a film, series or stage version of Tenth of December exists, discuss what changes and why.
Share a favorite line. Ask each person to read a short passage that stood out and explain what it meant to them.
Cast the book. Ask the group who they would cast in the main roles, and why.
Rate the pace. Ask where the book felt fastest or slowest, and whether the structure worked for them.
Pair it with a snack or drink. Food connected to the story gives guests something to talk about before the formal discussion starts.

Tips for Leading the Discussion

Prepare, but stay flexible. Pick a handful of questions in advance and let the group's reactions guide you.
Invite quieter voices. Ask someone who has not spoken to share a favorite line or scene.
Welcome disagreement. A lively debate about a character is a sign that the book is working.
Return to the text. Ask members to point to a passage in Tenth of December that supports their view.
Watch the clock. Move on when a question has run its course, and save extra questions for another time.

If your group has only an hour, choose one question from each theme and skip the rest.

Is Tenth of December a Good Book Club Pick?

Tenth of December is perfect for busy groups because members can discuss the stories they finished.

Books Like This One

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri: a prize-winning story collection
Cathedral by Raymond Carver: classic American short stories

How to Structure Your Meeting

A 90-minute meeting works well in four parts:

Welcome and quick ratings (10 minutes). Settle in and share a one-line reaction.
Spoiler-free talk (20 minutes). Start with characters, setting and style before the plot.
Spoiler discussion (45 minutes). Work through three or four of the questions above, letting the conversation wander when it is productive.
Wrap-up (15 minutes). Share favorite lines, choose the next book and thank the host.

If the conversation is going well, it is fine to let it run long and skip some questions.

After the Meeting

Send a short follow-up message with the next title, the date and a link to any readings or articles that came up. Some groups keep a simple record of books read and ratings, which makes it easier to choose future picks and spot the kinds of books the group loves most.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions should we prepare for Tenth of December?

Five to eight is enough for a 90-minute meeting. This guide gives seventeen, so you can choose the ones that fit your group.

Does Tenth of December work as a first pick for a new book club?